1st & Goal: 2021 Finals Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 30, 2021
Two of the longest MHSAA Finals days at Ford Field – capped by two of the most exciting championship games in recent memory – concluded the 2021 football season this weekend.
Fans were able to savor every moment until nearly midnight both nights, and more than 38,000 made the trip to Detroit over the two-day 11-player event. That was in addition to those who journeyed from near and far the weekend before for the 8-Player Finals at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome, where a pair of repeat champions reigned again.
Second Half covered all 10 championship games, with quick recaps and links (click on the game scores) to those stories below followed by notations of performances entered into the MHSAA Finals record book and a report on some of the biggest and best stories to emerge from the championship weekends.
Finals in Review
11-Player Division 1: Belleville 55, Rochester Adams 33
After falling a win short of reaching the Final the last three seasons, Belleville advanced this fall and completed its first championship run. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood showed on a statewide stage why he’s received lots of attention during his high school debut, and he was surrounded by seniors including receiver Jeremiah Caldwell who helped carry the Tigers to the win.
11-Player Division 2: Warren De La Salle Collegiate 41, Traverse City Central 14
After falling in last season’s championship game, De La Salle took the next step in winning its fourth Finals title – and with expectations we could see the Pilots back at Ford Field again in 2022. Junior quarterback Brady Drogosh has been a big part of both trips, and this time he had a hand in 316 total yards and four touchdowns either running or passing.
11-Player Division 3: Detroit Martin Luther King 25, DeWitt 21
Two of the state’s premier quarterbacks were on display, junior Dante Moore for King and senior Ty Holtz for reigning champ DeWitt. But the deciding play was a defensive stand – specifically, the Crusaders stopping a 4th-and-goal from their 1-yard line with 2:34 to play. Both teams brought interceptions back for touchdowns, Holtz making the grab and score for DeWitt.
11-Player Division 4: Chelsea 55, Hudsonville Unity Christian 52
This is the game from this weekend many will be referring to years from now. Take your pick why – the 11-Player Finals record 107 combined points, Chelsea’s also-record 28-point comeback over the final 23 minutes, the fact Unity Christian had set the season record for points scored during the game. Maybe the walk-off field goal by Hunter Shaw saved in part by the deft handling of a short snap by quarterback/holder Lucas Dunn.
11-Player Division 5: Grand Rapids Catholic Central 31, Marine City 7
The Cougars won their second-straight championship in Division 5 and fifth over the last six seasons to go with Division 4 titles in 2016, 2017 and 2019. They did so with what has to be one of the finest back-up quarterbacking performances ever – senior John Passinault stepped in for injured past Finals star Joey Silveri and threw for 2,307 yards and 37 touchdowns this fall.
11-Player Division 6: Lansing Catholic 16, Warren Michigan Collegiate 6
The Cougars have been known for their offensive production over the last decade or more, but the defense led the way to their second championship in three seasons – they had won Division 5 in 2019. Lansing Catholic gave up only 40 points – or eight per game – during this playoff run, and in this game took advantage of four interceptions and a fumble recovery.
11-Player Division 7: Pewamo-Westphalia 14, Lawton 10
The Pirates added their fourth championship in six seasons, capping a run which saw them win their league and defeat eight more league champions along the way – one of them Lansing Catholic, the eventual Division 6 title winner. P-W had accomplished most of it with key players out with injuries, but multiple returned to lead the Pirates past Lawton, which was making its first Finals appearance.
11-Player Division 8: Hudson 14, Beal City 7
Defense has reigned in Division 8 the last few seasons, with Hudson following recent champions Centreville and Reading in thriving on that side of the ball. The Tigers ended their undefeated season having given up only 99 points (7.1 per game), and this time stopped a Beal City team averaging 35.5 points per contest entering Ford Field.
8-Player Division 1: Adrian Lenawee Christian 31, Suttons Bay 20
A rematch of last season’s Division 1 Final was more closely contested, but with the same result as Lenawee Christian finished its second-straight undefeated campaign. Cougars quarterback Ashur Bryja is a name to remember – he opened the scoring 51 seconds in with an interception return touchdown, ran for two more scores and threw for 229 yards.
8-Player Division 2: Powers North Central 63, Colon 0
The Jets won their second-straight Division 2 title and fourth 8-player championship total, and put up a combined 133 points over those last two Finals wins. North Central had 520 yards of total offense this time. Wyatt Raab, Luke Gorzinski and Alex Naser all scored two touchdowns, and Gorzinski also was the team’s leading tackler.
Records Report
11-Player
Chelsea and Hudsonville blew past the previous record of 94 combined points in an 11-Player Finals game with their combined 107. Chelsea’s 55 tied for third-most, with Unity Christian now sitting at sixth on that list after Belleville also scored 55 in Division 1.
As expected from a 55-52 game, Chelsea ended up with the fourth-most total yardage in 11-Player Finals history, with 533, and the teams’ combined total of 1,024 ranks second. Chelsea’s 28 first downs are tied for third-most.
Chelsea’s Lucas Hanifan tied 11-player championship game records with 30 points and five touchdowns, and set the receiving touchdowns record by two with that total. His quarterback Lucas Dunn set the 11-Player Finals record with six touchdown passes while also making the yardage list with 308, pass attempts list with 36 and completions list with 25. Hanifan’s nine receptions also rank among the most in that category.
Belleville freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood may have even exceeded high expectations with his Finals debut, making the total offense list with a combined 346 rushing and passing yards (with 284 passing) and tying for second with four others with five touchdown passes. Senior receiver Jeremiah Caldwell played a big part, tying for second with 204 receiving yards (on only four receptions) and also tying for second with three touchdown catches.
Warren De La Salle Collegiate became the 22nd team to keep an opponent from completing a pass, shutting out Traverse City Central on its nine attempts. Detroit Martin Luther King became the 29th team to not punt in an 11-Player Final.
De La Salle quarterback Brady Drogosh also made the total yardage list with 316 (including 174 rushing). King’s Dante Moore made the completions list with 18 on 24 attempts.
Chelsea’s Hunter Shaw and Belleville’s Brayden Lane tied the 11-Player Finals record held by three others with seven extra points, while in Division 2, De La Salle’s Brady Lowe made the extra point list with five. Shaw and Adams’ Colin Timko became the 11th and 12th, respectively, to make two or more field goals, Timko hitting from 27 and 35 yards in the Division 1 game and Shaw from 26 and 33.
Hudson’s march to victory included 282 rushing yards on 64 carries, which tied for the eighth-most runs by one team in an 11-Player Final.
8-Player
Powers North Central’s big win was accompanied by multiple scoring record book entries, including for 29 points in a quarter (third most), 49 in the first half (first) and 63 for one game (also ranking third). The Jets also made the team rushing yardage list with 328 and the team first downs list with 20. North Central also became the first in the category for fewest rushing yards allowed, holding Colon to -14.
Adrian Lenawee Christian set the team first downs record with 24 against Suttons Bay.
Lenawee Christian quarterback Ashur Bryja earned the sixth-most total yards in 8-Player Finals history, with 372 including 229 passing.
North Central’s Jaden Walters set the standard for 8-player championship game kickers, making all seven of his extra point attempts.
Suttons Bay’s August Schaub set a record that will be tough to match, returning an interception 99 yards for a touchdown against Lenawee Christian.
Teammate Hugh Periard was added with the second-longest rushing play in 8-Player Finals history, 90 yards against Lenawee Christian.
Stories Behind the Scores
Winning streaks grow: A few of this season’s winners not only repeated as champions, but extended overall winning streaks that will be followed closely next season. Grand Rapids Catholic Central has won 36 straight games, tied for the sixth-longest undefeated run. Lenawee Christian has won all 24 8-player games it’s played over the last two seasons, and North Central also is 24-0 over the last two.
What’s new is new: Belleville and Chelsea were first-time champions after some just-misses over the last decade. As noted above, the Tigers made the Semifinals this season for the fourth straight year before reaching Ford Field for the first time, and Chelsea has made the Semifinals five of the last seven seasons and had lost in Finals in 2015 and 2018.
QB Power: Michigan is graduating another fine class of high school quarterbacks – DeWitt’s Ty Holtz, in particular, provided two seasons of memories leading the Panthers on back-to-back trips to Ford Field. But we should expect to see some of the other 2021 championship signal-callers a lot next season. King’s Dante Moore will close one of the most highly-followed careers in some time, and De La Salle’s Brady Drogosh will be watched just as much next fall. Belleville’s Bryce Underwood will generate plenty of statewide interest over the next three seasons. As noted, Lenawee Christian’s Ashur Bryja is one of the next stars among the small schools, and North Central’s Luke Gorzinski has led two championship runs and still is just a junior. Two more to remember: Marine City junior Jeffery Heaslip was a standout run/pass threat in leading his team to the Division 5 Final, and Rochester Adams junior Parker Picot became known at least in-state as much for football leading his team in Division 1 as he’s known as a top-level baseball prospect.
No taking ‘normal’ for granted: Those who experienced the start-stop-start 2020 season will never forget it, nor should any of us who had the opportunity to enjoy a more “normal” 2021. With COVID-19 ever present, Michigan high schools did their parts again to play safely this fall. And proper perspective remains a great teacher of just how much that’s worth.
Second Half’s weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
1st & Goal: 2025 11-Player Finals Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 26, 2025
Matchups of undefeated contenders will kick off and conclude this weekend’s 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field, with one more unbeaten-vs.-unbeaten matchup in the middle of Sunday among headliners this championship weekend.
With Michigan State playing Maryland on Saturday at Ford Field, the eight MHSAA championship games will be split between Friday and Sunday:
Friday, Nov. 28
Division 8 – Harbor Beach (13-0) vs. Hudson (13-0) – 9:30 a.m.
Division 4 – Dearborn Divine Child (12-1) vs. Hudsonville Unity Christian (12-1) – 12:30 p.m.
Division 6 – Kingsley (11-2) vs. Jackson Lumen Christi (10-3) – 4 p.m.
Division 2 – Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (10-2) vs. Dexter (12-1) – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30
Division 7 – Schoolcraft (11-2) vs. Menominee (13-0) – 9:30 a.m.
Division 3 – Mount Pleasant (13-0) vs. DeWitt (13-0) – 12:30 p.m.
Division 5 – Grand Rapids West Catholic (12-1) vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (11-2) – 4 p.m.
Division 1 – Detroit Cass Tech (13-0) vs. Detroit Catholic Central (13-0) – 7 p.m.
All eight championship games will be streamed live on the NFHS Network and available for listening from the MHSAA Network. Links to purchase tickets and more are available on the Football page.
Below is a glance at all eight matchups. Statistics are through Semifinals unless noted.
Division 1
DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Justin Cessante, third season (32-4)
League finish: First in Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: 10 MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2009), seven runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 46-6 over No. 8 East Kentwood in Semifinal, 42-13 over No. 5 Clarkston in Regional Final, 29-14 over Division 2 No. 1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 26-14 over Division 3 No. 5 Detroit Martin Luther King, 27-14 over Toledo Central Catholic.
Players to watch: WR/DB Samson Gash, 6-1/185, sr. (971 yards/14 TDs receiving); QB Duke Banta, 6-4/210, jr. (2,222 yards/27 TDs passing); TE/DL Jack Janda, 6-6/250, sr. (42 tackles/15 tackles for loss/10 sacks); OL/DL Benny Eziuka, 6-3/300, sr.
Outlook: The Shamrocks will return to the Finals for the first time since 2016 and after reaching the Semifinals last season. They’ve won 25 of their last 26 games – that Semifinal loss to Cass Tech the only defeat during that time – and this season have not allowed an opponent to get closer than 12 points. Gash is committed to Michigan State and made the Division 1-2 all-state first team last season, and senior Cedric Williams (1,146 yards/12 TDs rushing) helps provide balance on offense. Janda and Eziuka are part of a dominating defensive front for a group allowing only nine points per game. Eziuka is committed to Penn State and Janda has several high-major Division I scholarship offers.
DETROIT CASS TECH
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 2
Coach: Marvin Rushing, fourth season (37-9)
League finish: First in Detroit Public School League Blue
Championship history: Four MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2024), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 42-28 over No. 6 Saline in Regional Final, 35-19 and 27-22 over Division 3 No. 5 Detroit Martin Luther King, 28-27 over Toledo Central Catholic.
Players to watch: SE/DB Corey Sadler Jr., 5-11/186 sr. (1,406 yards/19 TDs receiving); LB Marcus Jennings, 6-3/209, sr.; QB Donald Tabron II, 6-4/192, soph. (2,394 yards/30 TDs passing); OL Khalief Canty Jr., 6-5/298, sr. (Statistics through Regional Finals.)
Outlook: Cass Tech is seeking its first repeat Finals championship since winning back-to-back Division 1 titles in 2011 and 2012. The Technicians also have won 23 straight games – including 17-14 over DCC in their Semifinal a year ago. Sadler, committed to North Carolina, and Tabron are the best-known playmakers, but sophomore Julian Taylor showed what he could do in the 48-22 Semifinal win over Rochester Adams, running for 178 yards and five touchdowns to bring his season rushing totals to 845 and 19, respectively. Sadler also has five punt return, two kick return and an interception return for touchdowns this fall. He and Canty both made the Division 1-2 all-state first team last season. Canty has committed to Missouri, and Jennings has committed to Pittsburgh.
Division 2
DEXTER
Record/Rank: 12-1, No. 5
Coach: Phil Jacobs, ninth season (65-30)
League finish: Second in Southeastern Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 56-42 over No. 6 Gibraltar Carlson in Regional Final, 41-27 over No. 4 South Lyon in District Final, 42-28 over Division 4 No. 6 Chelsea, 50-27 over Brighton.
Players to watch: QB Cooper Arnedt, 5-11/170, sr. (4,308 yards/52 TDs passing); WR Cole Novara, 5-8/155, sr. (2,098 yards/28 TDs receiving); LB Nathan Gersh, 6-2/225, sr.; OL/DL Mateo Kipke, 6-6/240, sr.
Outlook: Arnedt to Novara has become the most successful passing duo in MHSAA history, with Arnedt needing 125 yards and four touchdowns to tie single-season records in those categories and Novara setting state records for yardage, receptions (118) and touchdowns catches. That’s come against a schedule that also included Division 1 No. 6 Saline, the only team to defeat the Dreadnaughts. Jacobs took over a program in 2016 that had lost 32 straight games, and after going 0-9 his first season turned it into a state power that made the playoffs for the first time in 2018. Junior running back Brady Arbaugh has run for 949 yards and 13 touchdowns to give the offense another dimension, and Iowa State commit Owen Winder (6-7/290) at left tackle is among those leading the way. Gersh made the all-state first team last season, and Novara made the second.
ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S
Record/Rank: 10-2, No. 1
Coach: Jermaine Gonzales, fourth season (29-17)
League finish: Tied for second in CHSL Central
Championship history: Nine MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2024), six runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 42-7 over No. 3 Portage Central in Semifinal, 42-7 over No. 10 Midland Dow in Regional Final, 35-14 over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice in District Final, 49-10 over Division 3 No. 7 Warren De La Salle Collegiate, 36-21 over Toledo Central Catholic.
Players to watch: QB Jabin Gonzales, 6-2/202, jr. (1,881 yards/24 TDs passing, 7 TDs rushing); WR/DB Lorenzo Barber, 5-9/176, jr. (643 yards/11 TDs receiving, 6 TDs rushing); DL Ryan Harrington, 6-5/215, sr.; RB/DB Camari Patterson, 5-10/186, sr.
Outlook: St. Mary’s also is seeking to repeat, after most recently doing so with three straight Division 3 titles from 2014-16. The Eaglets’ first loss this season was to DCC, and in the District Final they avenged their second defeat, to Brother Rice. Harrington made the Division 1-2 all-state first team last season and has committed to Wake Forest, and he and Patterson (Western Michigan) are among standouts on a defense that has allowed just 35 points over four playoff wins. Sophomore running back Jamari Givhan (866 yards/6 TDs rushing) adds additional balance to the offense, and 6-foot-3 junior Chad Willis (649 yards/6 TDs receiving) is another valuable target in the passing game.
Division 3
DEWITT
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Rob Zimmerman, 27th season (275-55)
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Blue
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2020, six runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 41-20 over No. 7 Warren De La Salle Collegiate in Semifinal, 59-7 over Grand Ledge, 21-3 over Haslett.
Players to watch: QB/DB Traverse Moore, 6-0/195, sr. (2,115 yards/29 TDs rushing, 870 yards/12 TDs passing); WR/DB Jadon Bender, 6-0/182, sr. (307 yards/5 TDs receiving, 24 tackles/7 interceptions); RB Channing Ridley, 6-0/192, soph. (1,098 yards/15 TDs rushing); OL/DL Drew Rumsey, 6-2/285, sr.
Outlook: The Panthers are making their third trip to Ford Field over the last six seasons, having also finished Division 3 runner-up in 2021. With Central Michigan commit Moore leading the way, they’ve piled up points all season at least 50 eight times. DeWitt is defeating its opponents by an average of 40 points per game with only one single-digit margin, and averaging 9.7 yards per play. The defense doesn’t get as much attention but also has held opponents to single digits eight times. Rumsey made the all-state second team last season, and Moore and Bender earned honorable mentions. Sophomore Vincent Rose is another important offensive threat; he’s made 86 of 88 extra-point attempts and five field goals with a long of 40 yards.
MOUNT PLEASANT
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 2
Coach: Jason McIntyre, 20th season (168-52)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League North
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2011.
Best wins: 28-14 over No. 8 East Grand Rapids in Regional Final, 42-0 over No. 9 Gaylord in District Final, 63-39 over Division 2 No. 10 Midland Dow, 28-13 over Traverse City Central.
Players to watch: QB/DB Xavier Creguer, 6-0 jr. (1,548 yards/20 TDs passing, 927 yards/8 TDs rushing); FB/LB Grahm Phillips, 5-10 sr. (452 yards/9 TDs rushing); WR/LB Jack Mozurkewich, 6-2 sr. (272 yards/7 TDs receiving); OL/DL Kaed Wheeler, 6-3 jr. (Statistics through Regional Finals.)
Outlook: Mount Pleasant has cleared all of its opponents by at least 10 points this fall and made a nice jump after falling in District Finals the last four seasons. The Oilers handed Dow its only loss of the regular season and Gaylord its lone defeat all fall. Mozurkewich caught two more touchdown passes in the Semifinal win, and senior receivers Riley Olson (445 yards/4 TDs receiving) and Isaiah Rodriguez (395/5) have been two more reliable targets for top playmaker Creguer. Lowell in the Oilers’ 41-21 Semifinal win was the first opponent since Dow in Week 3 to score more than 17 points on the Mount Pleasant defense. Total, the team has 23 seniors, with seven starting on offense and five on defense.
Division 4
HUDSONVILLE UNITY CHRISTIAN
Record/Rank: 12-1, No. 4
Coach: Craig Tibbe, 23rd season (144-95)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold
Championship history: Division 5 champion 2018, Division 4 runner-up 2021.
Best wins: 52-14 over No. 10 Big Rapids in Regional Final, 14-6 over Zeeland West, 40-19 over Division 7 No. 7 Schoolcraft.
Players to watch: QB/DB Justin Febus, 5-9/155, sr. (979 yards/16 TDs rushing, 1,014 yards/18 TDs passing); RB/LB Lucas Elliott, 6-3/190, sr. (698 yards/6 TDs); RB/LB Jared DeVries, 5-11/200, sr. (622 yards/7 TDs); OL/DL Levi Offringa, 6-0/246, sr. (Statistics through Regional Finals.)
Outlook: Unity Christian is a combined 22-2 over the last two seasons, its only loss a year ago in a District Final and the only defeat this fall in Week 9 to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, which will play this weekend seeking to repeat as the Division 5 champ. The Crusaders have won all of their playoff games by double digits relying again on a crushing T-offense rushing attack that is averaging 331 yards on the ground per game. Unity Christian also has capitalized on nearly two turnovers per game and has more interceptions this season than passing touchdowns allowed (12 to 11).
DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD
Record/Rank: 12-1, No. 7
Coach: Chris Laney, fourth season (34-13)
League finish: Tied for first in CHSL AA
Championship history: Two MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 1985), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 10-7 over No. 2 Goodrich in Semifinal, 10-6 over No. 1 Harper Woods in Regional Final, 17-13 over Division 6 No. 2 Jackson Lumen Christi.
Players to watch: RB/S Marcello Vitti, 6-0/190 sr.; WR/S Giancarlo Vitti, 5-10/165, jr.; QB Drew Sheridan, 6-1/170, soph.; WR/CB Antonio Solares-Vitti, 6-3/185, sr. (No statistics submitted.)
Outlook: Divine Child will play for a Finals championship for the first time since 1985 after defeating a pair of undefeated contenders (Harper Woods and Goodrich) the last two weeks and losing only to Toledo St. Francis de Sales, by seven points in Week 7. The defense has been tough to beat all season – giving up 6.9 points per game – but really moved to the forefront with those most recent playoff wins. Offensively, Divine Child is dangerous on the ground and through the air, with nearly identical yardage and touchdowns attacking both ways. Marcello Vitti will play next for Iowa, and Solares-Vitti is committed to Eastern Michigan.
Division 5
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP
Record/Rank: 11-2, No. 4
Coach: Pat Fox, 12th season (89-36)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Division 5 champion 2024.
Best wins: 51-21 over No. 9 Monroe Jefferson in Semifinal, 42-28 over No. 3 Frankenmuth in Regional Final, 34-25 over Division 4 No. 4 Hudsonville Unity Christian, 21-12 over Division 6 No. 6 Marine City, 63-38 over Division 6 No. 8 Traverse City St. Francis.
Players to watch: RB/CB Ben Liparato, 5-9/160, sr. (924 yards/12 TDs rushing); WR/CB Drake Roa, 6-3/190, sr. (950 yards/17 TDs receiving); QB/LB Sam Stowe, 6-5/205, sr. (2,498 yards/38 TDs passing); WR/LB Brody Sink, 6-4/200, sr. (784 yards/13 TDs receiving). (Statistics through Regional Finals.)
Outlook: After winning its first championship a year ago, Notre Dame Prep will attempt to repeat with a pair of the same standouts leading the way. Stowe at quarterback and Sink at linebacker both made the all-state first team last season and are pacing units that have been outstanding again, with the offense topping 500 points for the second-straight season and the defense posting two shutouts to start the playoffs and slowing Frankenmuth and Jefferson the last two weeks. Among additional two-way standouts, senior running back Anthony Tartaglia had 710 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing through the Regional Final and also starts at linebacker. Sink will play next at Miami (Ohio).
GRAND RAPIDS WEST CATHOLIC
Record/Rank: 12-1, No. 2
Coach: Landon Grove, fourth season (43-7)
League finish: First in O-K White
Championship history: Seven MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 34-24 over No. 7 Ogemaw Heights in Semifinal, 21-20 (OT) over No. 1 Grand Rapids Catholic Central in District Final, 28-16 over Zeeland West.
Players to watch: QB Grady Augustyn, 6-1/190, sr. (2,154 yards/20 TDs passing); RB/DB Connor Olszewski, 5-11/195, sr. (1,129 yards/12 TDs rushing); TE/LB Jael Djouguem, 5-10/170, jr.; OL/DL Jacob Timmer, 6-7/275, sr.
Outlook: West Catholic is back in a Division 5 Final for the first time since claiming five straight from 2013-17 and after winning in Division 6 in 2022. A key was getting past rival Grand Rapids Catholic Central, which had ended West Catholic’s last two seasons with playoff losses. Timmer, who will play next at Central Michigan, made the Division 5-6 all-state first team last season and leads a blocking unit that’s also cleared the way for junior Collin Abram (1,182 yards/16 TDs rushing). Senior kicker Landon Smith also is a returning all-state first-teamer and has connected on 49 of 53 extra-point attempts and eight field goals.
Division 6
JACKSON LUMEN CHRISTI
Record/Rank: 10-3, No. 2
Coach: Herb Brogan, 46th season (431-96)
League finish: Tied for first in CHSL AA
Championship history: 14 MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2024), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 25-19 (3OT) over No. 1 Almont in Semifinal, 27-12 over No. 8 Traverse City St. Francis, 41-6 over Division 4 No. 7 Dearborn Divine Child, 54-34 over Division 5 No. 4 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.
Players to watch: QB Benny Gaston, 6-0/185, jr. (1,594 yards/12 TDs passing); RB/LB Paul Sattler, 6-1/190, sr. (1,250 yards/14 TDs rushing); FB/LB Sean Walicki, 6-0/205, sr. (629 yards/9 TDs rushing); TE/DE Isaac Maki, 6-3/185, sr.
Outlook: Lumen Christi is playing for a fourth-straight Finals championship and second-straight in Division 6 after winning in 2021 and 2022 in Division 7. Brogan is the second-winningest coach in MHSAA football history, tying and then moving past Brother Rice legend Al Fracassa (430 wins) over the last two weeks. Two of Lumen’s losses this season came to teams playing for championships this weekend – Notre Dame Prep and Lombard Montini Catholic from Illinois – and the third defeat came to Grand Rapids Catholic Central during a 2-3 start to the season. Lumen hasn’t given up more than 19 points in a game since that Week 3 loss to the Cougars.
KINGSLEY
Record/Rank: 11-2, No. 5
Co-Coaches: Tim Wooer, 17th season (145-44); Jason Morrow, second season (18-5)
League finish: Second in Northern Michigan Football Conference Legends
Championship history: Two MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2023)
Best wins: 14-0 over No. 4 Kent City in Semifinal, 18-14 (Regional Final) and 24-6 over No. 9 Reed City, 57-6 over No. 8 Traverse City St. Francis in District Final, 44-18 over Division 7 No. 4 Charlevoix.
Players to watch: TE/LB Colton Goethals, 6-1/195, sr. (420 yards/8 TDs receiving); QB/LB Tucker Dreves, 6-1/175, sr. (1,046 yards/13 TDs passing); FB/OL/DL Isaiah Cosgrove, 5-9/190, sr. (739 yards/6 TDs rushing); FB/DB Gavin Lewis, 5-9/160, sr. (1,023 yards/14 TDs). (Statistics through Regional Final.)
Outlook: Kingsley has navigated one of the toughest playoff roads in any division, and the Charlevoix win closed the regular season. The St. Francis victory in the District Final avenged a one-point loss to the Gladiators in Week 5, and the Stags’ only other loss came to Division 3 Gaylord, which finished 10-1 this fall. Goethals made the Division 5-6 all-state second team last season and keys a defense that hasn’t given up more than 21 points in a game and has allowed 34 total over four playoff wins. Cosgrove has been the team’s second-leading rusher, but is starting at right guard along with his spot at defensive end.
Division 7
MENOMINEE
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Chad Brandt, fourth season (40-10)
League finish: First in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper
Championship history: Three MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2007), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 32-28 over No. 3 Pewamo-Westphalia in Semifinal, 49-6 over No. 9 McBain in District Final, 49-14 over Kingsford.
Players to watch: QB/DB Tanner Theuerkauf, 6-3/185, sr. (1,379 yards/22 TDs passing); RB/DB Dawson Bardowski, 5-9/165, sr. (516 yards/6 TDs receiving); RB/DL Clayton Miller, 5-11/190, sr. (1,132 yards/22 TDs rushing); OL/DL Ryan Marzian, 6-0/240, sr. (Statistics through Regional Final.)
Outlook: Menominee is making its second trip to Ford Field over three seasons, most recently finishing Division 7 runner-up in 2023, and after an impressive comeback win over P-W in the Semifinal. The Pirates were the only team this season to score more than 17 points on the Maroons, and Menominee’s 32 points were the most P-W gave up this fall. Once known for its run-heavy single-wing offense, Menominee attacks with plenty of balance and spreads it around on the passing side with three receivers catching at least four touchdowns this fall. Senior nose guard Blake Paasch and Theuerkauf were among the team’s leading tacklers in its 34-30 loss to Lumen Christi in the 2023 Final.
SCHOOLCRAFT
Record/Rank: 11-2, No. 7
Coach: Dan DeVries, first season (11-2)
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley
Championship history: Three MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2001), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 43-14 over No. 5 Clinton in Semifinal, 22-14 over Hanover-Horton in Regional Final, 26-0 (District Final) and 18-14 over Lawton.
Players to watch: RB/DB T.J. Luteyn, 5-11/180, sr. (681 yards/8 TDs rushing); WR/DB Drew Enright, 6-1/185, sr. (858 yards/13 TDs receiving); QB/P Jack DeVries, 6-2/180, jr. (2,290 yards/30 TDs passing); OL/DL Brody Epple, 6-3/200, sr.
Outlook: Schoolcraft is making its first Finals trip since that most recent championship season, and doing so under first-year coach Dan DeVries, who was promoted after four seasons coaching the junior varsity and played on the 1994 team that finished Class C runner-up. The Eagles’ only losses were early to Hudsonville Unity Christian – playing in the Division 4 Final – and in the regular-season finale to Division 5 Kalamazoo United. Schoolcraft has nearly identical yardage and touchdown totals rushing and passing, with several contributors to both parts of the attack.
Division 8
HUDSON
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Dan Rogers, sixth season (58-11)
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Championship history: Two MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2021), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 67-14 over No. 5 Allen Park Cabrini in Semifinal, 68-22 over No. 6 Springport in Regional Final, 44-8 over No. 8 Fowler, 38-0 over Berrien Springs, 32-16 over Division 7 No. 5 Clinton.
Players to watch: RB/DB Beckett Campbell, 5-7/160, soph. (2,345 yards/37 TDs rushing); RB/DB Grayson Bills, 5-9/165, sr. (1,790 yards/25 TDs rushing, 4 TDs receiving); QB/DB Colt Perry, 5-7/155, sr. (637 yards/9 TDs passing, 4 TDs rushing); OT/DE Koen Hinzman, 6-7/285, jr.
Outlook: Save for an 8-3 win over Division 6 Ida in Week 2, Hudson has dominated this season from start to near-finish, defeating its opponents by an average of 41 points. Bills made the all-state first team as a running back last season and is joined by Campbell; they combined for most of the team’s 450-plus rushing yards in the Semifinal win. As a team, the Tigers have run for nearly 5,300 yards this fall, which would rank third all-time heading into this weekend. Seniors Malachi Marshall (6-4/245) and Colton Natale (6-0/255) also start on both the offensive and defensive lines, and senior flanker Devon Brigman has nearly 500 yards and eight touchdowns rushing to augment Campbell and Bills’ efforts.
HARBOR BEACH
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 3
Coach: Troy Schelke, 29th season (220-90)
League finish: First in Big Thumb Conference Black
Championship history: Division 8 champion 2012, Class C runner-up 1991.
Best wins: 40-0 over Bark River-Harris in Semifinal, 26-15 over No. 2 Beal City in Regional Final, 41-7 over Division 7 No. 10 Millington, 43-14 over Division 7 No. 8 Ottawa Lake Whiteford.
Players to watch: QB/LB Caden Bucholtz, 6-1/225, sr. (960 yards/21 TDs rushing, 753 yards/10 TDs passing); RB/S Benson Harper, 6-0/180, sr. (308 yards/3 TDs rushing, 178 yards/3 TDs receiving); C/DE Peyton Roggenbuck, 6-3/220, sr.; OT/DT Noah Mellendorf, 6-3/245, sr.
Outlook: Harbor Beach has seemed on the verge of this moment with two straight perfect regular seasons and with its only 2023 losses during the regular season and playoffs to eventual Division 8 champion Ubly. The closest an opponent has gotten to the Pirates this season was 11 points, and they’ve won their playoff games by an average of nearly 38. Harper made the Division 7-8 all-state first team last season, and Bucholtz earned an honorable mention. While Bucholtz directs the offense, Harbor Beach has several contributors including as well senior fullback Rogan Messing (697 yads/10 TDs rushing), senior running back Keagun Potestivo (495 yards/11 TDs rushing) and 6-5 senior tight end Skiler Kruse (293 yards/5 TDs receiving).
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